Protect every journey
Professional Standards Department
Our Professional Standards Department (PSD) play a key role in helping uphold the standards of professional behaviour by addressing the threat of corrupt activity by Police Officers, Staff, Partners and Volunteers to protect the security of information and operational activity to build trust and confidence in the public and communities that we serve.
PSD within British Transport Police (BTP) encompasses several teams, which you can read more about below:
Vetting Unit
Our Vetting team’s main purpose is to safeguard the Force and minimise corruption through carrying out structured, thorough background checks on each BTP employee. Vetting checks can include criminal, financial and social media checks. The team carry out background checks for the recruitment of all Police personnel, including contractors and volunteers to ensure that they are suitable for employment. They also manage the renewal of vetting clearances for existing employees.
Proactive Unit
The Proactive unit research, gather and develop intelligence with regards to Corruption and Serious Misconduct of BTP Officers and Staff.
The unit is split into two teams; the Intelligence unit and Counter Corruption unit.
The Intelligence unit gather, research and develop intelligence and create intelligence products including Subject/Problem profiles, tasking documents and strategic assessments and manage the day to day communications, research and development in relation to confidential submissions sent through our Speak Up system.
The Counter Corruption unit comprises of experienced Officers and Detectives. They have various covert and overt capabilities, which enable them to develop intelligence on serious misconduct and criminal offences committed by BTP employees or those who seek to corrupt them.
Reactive Unit
The Reactive unit are responsible for conducting investigations into complaints and misconduct matters made against all police personnel, along with all other matters affecting the discipline of BTP, in order to maintain the integrity of the Force and ensure that officers and staff conduct themselves in accordance with expectations and maintain public confidence.
Panels Unit
The Panels team manage all cases that go to either a misconduct hearing or misconduct meeting and any subsequent appeal cases.
The team prepare complex bundles, coordinate and attend hearings and are responsible for ensuring all functions are carried out in an efficient and timely manner so that legislative time scales are adhered to and cases are prepared in accordance with regulations, policy and statutory guidance.
Prevent Unit
The newest arm of PSD, the Prevent team aim to understand cultural and behavioural issues within BTP and work collaboratively with Divisions and other areas of the organisation to design out issues through effective one to one and group interventions. The work of this team is underpinned by latest research and technology and evidence-based.
Given the various units that make up our Professional Standards Department, you could join us a Vetting Officer in the Vetting team, an Intelligence Analyst, Intelligence Researcher or Intelligence Development Officer within the Proactive team, a Detective Constable or Investigating Officer within the Reactive team, Panels Officer or Prevent Advisor and more.
No matter which team you join, you can be safe in the knowledge that your work will contribute to the wider Professional Standards department’s goal of upholding the standards of professional behaviour to build trust and confidence in the public and communities that BTP serve.
To view our current vacancies, please click here.
Positive action
At BTP we are proud guardians of the railway and it is crucial that we represent the diverse communities we serve and protect. As ‘One BTP’ across the UK, we know that diversity, inclusion and belonging help us improve our decision making, foster creativity and drive innovation so all our people can thrive.
Our vacancies are open to everyone and all appointments are made based on merit. So that we can become more diverse we encourage applications from candidates from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, women, people who have a disability, those who are neurodiverse and persons who identify as LGBTQI+. If you have the skills, experience and values that here in BTP we pride ourselves on then we would welcome you to apply.
For more information on Positive Action please click here or email the team on PART-recruitment@btp.police.uk
Benefits
We’re passionate about recognising and rewarding those who help us protect every journey. It’s you who makes the difference, so our benefits are designed with you in mind. Take a look at what’s on offer:
Pension scheme
We offer a generous pension to our employees. For further information, please contact our Pensions Manager at Pension-Queries@btp.police.uk
Flexible Working
We promote modern and flexible ways of working across many of our roles, empowering people to choose how and where is best to carry out their role.
Blue Light card
A Blue Light Card costs £4.99 for two-years and gives you access to a range of discounts, both online and on the high street
Career Development
Where you start your career journey with us doesn’t have to be where you stay. A range of professions make up the BTP family and we provide you with the opportunities to develop yourself personally and professionally.
Annual leave
Police staff and PCSOs are entitled to 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 30 days with five years of service or more.
Transport Benevolent Fund
A charity to support employees in the public transport industry.
Maternity, paternity and adoption leave
We offer 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave after a qualifying period. Paid paternity leave is also available.
Cycle to work scheme
You’ll have the opportunity to hire a bicycle from us to cycle to work and you won’t pay national insurance or tax contributions on what you spend up to £1,000.
Travel on duty
Staff are able to request travel passes for specific work commitments.
Season Ticket Loan
Police staff may apply for an interest free annual season ticket loan. The cost of the ticket is deducted through equal payments over ten 4-weekly pay periods.
Health and wellbeing benefits
Employee assistance
BTP’s employee assistance programme is a free, confidential service which supports our employees in resolving personal problems and improving their overall wellbeing.
Wellbeing hub
Internal knowledge hub containing news, information and resources on a variety of topics, wellbeing events and details of all our support services.
Eye care provision
Computer users are entitled to eye care examinations and glasses paid for by BTP.
CSSC Sports and Leisure
A not-for-profit organisation positively promoting health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Armed Forces Covenant
We are silver accredited under the Armed Forces Covenant and we support Territorial forces reservists, including paid time off to participate in training.
Training
When you join BTP, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to develop both personally and professionally - taking your career in any direction.
Police staff training can vary from online e-learning packages, on the job training, classroom programmes and sponsorship for external qualifications. We contribute towards one professional membership (terms apply). Your line manager will help to keep you on track with regular updates and help you to identify and fill any skill gaps you may have.
The Application Process
Your application will initially be screened to ensure that you meet the minimum eligibility requirements. Once this has been satisfied, the information you have provided in the application form will be assessed.
If you’re successful, you’ll be invited for an interview or assessment. We’ll be looking for evidence of the qualities you have to enable you to carry out your role. If you meet our high standards, you’ll receive a conditional offer and we’ll start your pre-employment checks.
Once you have been given a conditional offer, you will go through the full vetting process. This will include employment reference checks as well as our own baseline vetting. You’ll receive your offer letter or contract once these security checks have been successfully completed.
Eligibility
Before you make the decision to apply, you’ll need to make sure that you meet our eligibility criteria.
It’s important that our Police staff and PCSOs provide the best possible service with the full confidence of the public they serve. That’s why every Police staff and PCSO recruit goes through a thorough vetting check as part of the application process.
To join us, you must have the permanent right to live and work in the UK without any restrictions.
As a minimum, all applicants must have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years. This is required to ensure we can conduct adequate vetting checks and this applies equally to all applicants, regardless of nationality.
You must be a minimum of 18 years old to be employed. There is no maximum age for Police staff and PCSO applications.
You will not be eligible to apply if you have ever received a prison sentence.
All other cautions, convictions and involvement with the police must be declared during the vetting process. This will not necessarily result in your application being withdrawn, as all applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
As part of your checks we will verify your financial position. Employees hold a privileged position and have access to a range of sensitive and valuable information. Potentially, this means employees are a heightened risk of being vulnerable to corruption. This means, applicants must to be free from the pressure of undischarged debts or liabilities and to be able to manage loans and debts sensibly.
Tattoos are not acceptable if:
- They are on your face
- Above the collar line on the front or side of your neck,
- Are large on the back of your neck and cannot be easily covered
- They could be considered in any way offensive, regardless of their location.
Visible tattoos are permissible on other areas of the body including hands, arms, legs, feet and on the back of the neck (providing the tattoo is discreet and behind the ear lobe).
Discreet tattoos on the ear are also considered acceptable. Consideration will be given to tattoos on the face that were necessary following medical procedures or for cosmetic procedures e.g. eyebrows.
You are encouraged to contact the recruitment team if you are at all unsure about your tattoos and we will advise you wherever possible.
You can do this by emailing us.
Contact us
You have to be able to conduct your role and responsibilities impartially and effectively. This means if you are currently, or have even been, associated with any group, society or individuals that could reasonably represent a conflict of interest, then you will not be eligible to apply.
Due to the timescales of our recruitment process, applications from service personnel will only be accepted if you have 12 months or less to serve before being discharged. You will need to attach with your application confirmation of your projected date of discharge. (e.g. a letter from your Commanding officer).
Each role will specify what qualifications are a requirement for appointment. For training and development purposes you may be required to produce examination certificates. If you are still in, or have recently left full-time education, we may also ask for a reference from the relevant institution.
You will need to declare any other employment or business interest you have and intend to maintain so that this can be reviewed to ensure no conflict of interest with the police.
You will not normally be eligible for appointment as a Police officer if you hold any office or employment for hire or gain, or if you carry on any business in addition to being a Police officer.
Our employees may encounter situations that can be stressful, traumatic and at times, physically confrontational. Our people can work long hours and cover rotating shifts, so the role can be physically and mentally demanding. Therefore, it is important our employees are in good health to be able to undertake their duties safely.
To ensure we can support our employees’ wellbeing, we’ll ask you to provide relevant details of your health and medical history in accordance with any questions we have to ask during the application process.
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